By By Shawn Wansley / staff writer
March 7, 2002
SOSO It was early in the season for a must-win' game, but that's the way Northeast Lauderdale coach Chris Harper approached Tuesday's game with the homestanding West Jones Mustangs.
The Trojans answered Harper's challenge, pulling out a 7-6 victory over West Jones at Mustang Field. NEL never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. West tied it at 4-4 in the third, 5-5 in the fifth
and 6-6 in the sixth, but could never pull ahead.
West Jones was charged with seven errors in the game, leading to five
unearned runs. The Mustangs also hit three batters, all of whom eventually
came home to score the victory moved NEL to 4-5 overall, 2-1 in Division 5-4A. West Jones drops to 4-2 overall, 2-1 in the division.
NEL's Ryan Stewart started the game with an infield hit and Cory Chance was then hit by a pitch. Stewart came home on a wild pitch, while Dusty
Hedgepeth, who was also hit by a pitch, and Chance each scored on a throwing error.
The Mustangs answered with two runs in the bottom of the first.
Stewart started the second inning by being hit by a pitch. After Chance
singled, J.R. Smith's scored Stewart, giving the visitors a 4-2 lead. West Jones tied it in the third, when Rounsaville ripped a double to right-center. Wes Chancellor followed with a walk and Graves drilled a two-run double to right-center.
The Trojans came back with a run in the fifth when Chance doubled down the left-field line. He advanced to third on an error and scored on Smith's
sacrifice fly to center. But the Mustangs rallied right back in the home half of the frame.
Rounsaville was hit by a pitch and stole second base. He took third on a
passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. NEL regained the lead in the sixth when Chance reached on an error, took second on a passed ball and later come home on a throwing error. West Jones tied it at 6-6 in the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh, Rounsaville led off with a walk and Chancellor was hit by a pitch. At this point, Harper replaced starting pitcher Drew Anderson with Matlock, who had pitched five innings the night before vs. Quitman.
After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Joel McCraney lofted a fly ball to right field, where Smith who had thrown out a runner trying to advance to third base earlier in the game made a strong throw home to hold Rounsaville at third. Matlock then recorded a strikeout to end the game.
got the job done and that's what it's all about."
Anderson posted the win, allowing four hits and striking out five in
six-plus innings. Matlock got the save.
Chance doubled and singled for NEL, while Smith singled twice and Stewart and Jason Pritchett added singles.
NEL hosts Magee Friday at 7 p.m.